08/20/09

Best Drink Prices on Franklin Ave

by KassiF

Recently moved to the block. La Poubelle has the best drink prices and best food that I've found in the hood. Really good Happy Hour that includes appetizers... and I just discovered that they have $6 martinis on Mondays now! I'm in.

• Pros: fun atmosphere, patio

08/08/09

Bad Service and over priced.....

by sunnystar

This restaurant is located in my neighborhood so I have given the place a few goes. what utter badness, the service sucked with servers who don't serve and you have to wait for at least 20 minutes to get a drink The servers are negative and very grumpy and when they add service to your bill, you have to wonder why!!!. The food tastes good but everything else was rubbish. What a shame....

• Pros: food's good
• Cons: bad servers who don't 'Serve you' and are grumpy

05/07/09

I can't believe this place has been around so long

by mikesreviews

We now live in Franklin Village. We walk the dogs by La Poubelle daily, and tried it on a late night when we first moved to the neighborhood. That night the service was courteous and fast, the food was delicious (my wife and I like over seasoning, especially garlic…you will get that here). We ordered a martini (gin-dirty and wet at $11.00 for well gin) and a beer (house $3.00 very good). The bartender got the beer right, but the martini was TERRIBLE…small and had to be “fixed”…for $11.00, we expected it to be perfect the first time.

This is a place that you want to be good. It has a “very French” look to it. Lots of people wearing odd outfits draped over the bar, with that look of non-commitment about them…like they are not actually there. Is like a stage play for a French place. So it is very cool.

Some friends came up from San Juan Capistrano (were downtown buying diamonds…recession?).

This night was the same only amplified.

The barman this night was worse then the first. Rude, but not in the condescending (Parisian) French way (you idiots know nothing!). No, this was different…once again like a stage play for a rude bartender. Irritating to the point of being comical, in a Seinfeld-The Office-Twilight Zone way that is hard to put into words.

No house beer tonight… so a Guinness is $7.00. A call vodka and soda and a (very small) lemon drop martini (with salt. not sugar on the rim) came to $23.00! The bartender was definitely put out when we asked him to re-make it. My wife had a glass of the Cote-de-Rhone…it was good, but not worth $12.00….$8.00, sure.

Lesson # 1…Only drink at happy hour if at all.

Getting a table was a negotiation, but once we finally got one…and fries (really tasty, garlicky-thin Pomme Frites…everyone loved them) came quickly, so as to keep me from throwing glasses at the bartender…I could only guess.

At this point we were there for about an hour.

When the food finally came…it was AMAZING and we all were very happy with it. The server apologized for the barman, and for the general disarray of the place…she was an island in a sea of incompetence.

After reading a few of the honest appraisals of this restaurant, it is amazing that it is still in business. Given the quality that is available elsewhere.

We will go back…because the food IS really worth the headache you get with the rest of it. Oddly, we like the place, in a food fight sort of way.

• Pros: The food
• Cons: The bartenders

01/21/09

Horrible (said in condescending French accent)

by JeanGR

This place is possibly the snottiest restaurant in all of Los Angeles. What's most ridiculous about their snobbery is that La Poubelle lacks the food to back it up. At best, their cuisine is mediocre and even then, the service you have to endure isn't worth the average meal you eventually get. Waste of my time and my money.

01/21/09

Cozy atmosphere

by CarlKing

La Poubelle has the menu if you are tired of the same (o) same (o). The clientele are diverse and exciting. I would suggest making a reservation as it gets packed especially on the weekends.

• Pros: Nightlife atmosphere is a strong plus. The food is excellent.
• Cons: Parking can be difficult and it gets packed rather earily.

01/10/09

Fun Neighborhood Restaurant

by samlibby

I have been dining at this casual, neighborhood bistro for about 5 years, and have always had an enjoyable experience. The staff is friendly and well informed, and the crepes are great. Very nice small wine list - I suggest the Cote du Rhone, personal favorite.

Early evening - from 5 to about 9, the restaurant and bar is great for a quiet & romantic pre-movie & date night spot. Usually after 9 (especially on weekends) the place is bustling with neighborhood locals, celebrities and people like myself that enjoy the company of a fun crowd.

The brunch is really good and very well priced - try the breakfast crepe & the maroc eggs - Cheers, Sam

• Pros: local neighborhood bistro
• Cons: nothing

01/10/09

good wine and a good time

by markysimp

Went in for dinner a couple of nights ago with the friends and had a great dinner. It was nice and warm inside when it was really cold outside. I would definitely recommend this for dinner or to meet at the bar for business or pleasure. Great wine list!

• Pros: atmosphere, food, wine

01/07/09

Suspicious Reviews

by lisamiller200675

I came on here to write a less-than glowing review about La Poubelle and find it VERY interesting that the last four FABULOUS reviews all sound like they came from the same writer (all have the exact same Pros and Cons) and were posted on the exact same day. In fact, if you look at most of the 5 star reviews, they all seem to have a lot of similarities. No doubt these are from employees of the restaurant or the owner as anyone who visits will realize that the service is shameful. Who else would write such gems as: "The owners are friendly, caring and just lovely considerate people that take great pride in servicing and cooking for the community." or "You could just see that the staff and the owners take great pride in servicing the clientele. It was really nice to see a restaurant in Hollywood where the people actually care about serving great food and wonderful, warm ambiance."

I encourage people interested in this restaurant to stop, take pause, and read the dozens of REAL reviews about the atrocious service that this restaurant seems notorious for. Why would someone need to make fake postings otherwise? I won't even go into my dining experience as I think this speaks for itself.

• Cons: Fake reviews and horrible service

01/06/09

Wonderful Neighborhood Bistro

by gustavharris

I have been dining at La Poubelle for years - about 10 to be exact.

I have had birthdays, holiday parties, date nights with my wife, wonderful brunches, great wine and cheese at the bar with friends... just about every memorable way to enjoy your local restaurant.

The owners are friendly, caring and just lovely considerate people that take great pride in servicing and cooking for the community.

This is a gem that is rare in a big city such as ours.

To only say that La Poubelle is from that time and place where people truely cared about how they work for the community is an understatement. From the staff to the customers - you can feel a presence of comfort, charm & warmth that can only be found in such a gem.

My favorite dish is the coq au vin and the onion soup. Other exceptional dishes are the filet mignon, the ratatouille crepe and the shrimp & gorgonzola crepe.

Hats off to my favorite home away from home.

• Pros: everything
• Cons: nothing

01/06/09

Great Sunday Night Supper Deal

by stephaniek415

I really wanted to share this with others that, like me, love a good deal.

I have been gathering a few friends every Sunday evening for a great meal at La Poubelle - Sunday Night Supper!

Every week a new selection of appetizers and entrees are featured for $16. To accompany the meal is a selection of wine that compliments that weeks special - also $16.

So last week we had a choice of 1/2 dozen oysters or French onion soup as an appetizer and a choice of a fantastic ribeye steak with shallot and red wine sauce or perfectly prepared salmon in a beurre blanc sauce. WOW!!!

It seems that every week they still manage to surprise our group of friends with fantastic options, great service, memorable moments and lots of wine and laughter.

May we say "Merci Beaucoup, La Poubelle!!!!" - Stephanie Klein

• Pros: everything
• Cons: nothing